JERUSALEM, May 23, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli police Monday barred Palestinian Christian Orthodox scout groups from accompanying US President Donald Trump into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in East Jerusalem’s Old City because of the Palestinian flag emblems on their costumes, according to the Arab Orthodox Union Club.

The club said in the statement that Palestinian Orthodox Christian scouts who were supposed to greet Trump on his visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher were ordered by Israeli police “not to even get near the Old City” because of the emblems of Palestinian flag on their costumes.

According to the statement, the scout groups were asked by Trump team to parade in Jerusalem’s Old City and accompany the US President into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where the heads of churches had assembled to greet him. Their participation was also approved by President Mahmoud Abbas in person.

The club said a lot of deliberations were conducted with Trump’s team over the last two days, and they agreed upon “all pertinent details”, including the scouts’ costumes, the flags and instruments that would be carried.

However, following a phone call from the head of Israeli police, the Arab Orthodox Union Club consulted with Trump’s team, “who were also worried about the safety of the kids” in the event of a confrontation with the police and “it was agreed upon that the scout’s participation would be cancelled.”

The Arab Orthodox Union Club affirmed they always wear the Palestinian flag emblems on their costumes.

“The Arab Orthodox Union Club and its scouts have been in Jerusalem since before the creation of Israel and thus the flag is not simply an item on the uniform; it is a part of who we are,” the statement concluded.

K.F./M.K.